Meter-box.



No. 670,335. y Patented mar. I9, 190|.

J. A. moan a. H. n. 'wmTurL M E T E R B 0 X (Application med Aug. 9,1900.

2 Sheets-Sheet l'/ No Model.)

@WMI/bow V No. 670,335. Patented Mar. I9, I 9Ul. J. A. TILDEN &. H. D.WINTUN.

METER BOX.

(Application led Aug. 9, 1900.) @No Model.) 2 Sheetsr-Sheet` 2.

UNTTnn STaTns aTnNT TTTcn,

JAMES A. TILDEN, OE HYDE PARK, AND HENRY D. WINTON, OE IVELIIES- IIEYIIILIJS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE IIERSEY MANUFAC- TURINGCOMPANY, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Ni ETER-BOX.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eat-,ent No. 670,33 5, datedMarch 19, 1901.

Application filed August 9, 1900. Serial No. 26,433. No inodel To allwit/mt t may concern:

Beit known that we, JAMES A. TILDEN, residing at Hyde Park, and HENRY D.WINTON, residing at I'Vellesley Hills, Massachusetts, citizens of theUnited States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMeter-Boxes, of which the following` is a specilication.

It has become necessary in many instances to set water-meters inmeter-boxes below the surface of the ground, and to this end the saidmeter-boxes are provided with inlet and outlet ports communicating withthe servicepipes, between which ports and the inlet and outlet ports ofthe meter-casings connections 1n ust be made. Various means have beenemployed for making such connections,which differ, resulting from thefact that meter-casings vary inlength, so that connections suitable forone style of meter cannot be employed for another, and many of theconnecting devices employed are expensive and difcult to manipulate insetting the meter-casings, and the latter cannot be removed withfacility. In order to avoid the objections incident to many of theconstructions heretofore employed, we dispense with the usual unionconnections, and by means of suitable pressure or clam ping devices weforce the flat seats or faces of the meter-casing` adjacent to the portsthereof by direct pressure into close contact with parallel flat seatsor faces of the meter-box adjacent to the inlet and outlet portsthereof, preferably, With suitable intervening packings, and therebysecure the desired close joints between the meter-casing and said inletand outlet ports without the necessity of the appliances heretoforeemployed, and in order to adapt such connections to meters of differentsizes or styles or to compensate for variations in the distances betweenthe inlet and outlet ports We enlarge the ports of the meter-casing orthe meterboxes, preferably, by elongating the same, so that there willbe a full, complete, and unobstructed communication between therespective ports, even if they are not concentric with each other, thejoints being maintained tight, even if the meter-casing is shiftedlaterally upon the bearing-faces of the box-casing.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis an elevation of a meter-boxanda meter embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line2 2, Eig. l. Fig. 3 is a plan view illustratingr a inodilication.

In carrying out our invention we may construct the parts and clamp themtogether in different ways.

The meter-box is of any suitable construction, the inlet and outletports extending into the same, or, as in Figs. I and 2, the box itselfmay be provided with inlet and oullet ports d b in a cast-metal base B,which, as shown, is constructed for connection to the cylindricalportion A of the casing, which extends upward and may be made insections, so that the upper portion may be set to any desired heightupon the lower portion,accord ing to the depth of the meter below the surface of the ground. As shown, the ports d Z1 open upward, and each issurrounded by an annular seat or bearing-face.

The meter-casing C is of any suitable construction and has the usualinlet and outlet ports terminating generally in threaded spuds c, and tothese spuds are adapted channelblocks D D, threaded at the ends toreceive the spuds, with openings at their faces surrounded by seats,which constitute bearingfaces, between which and the faces around theports d. b suitable packages e may intervene.

The blocks D D may of course constitute themselves fixed parts of themeter; but as shown they are adjustable to the extent that they may beturned downward or to one side to present the inlet and outlet ports ofthe meter-casing in position to communicate with those of the meter-box,according to the construction of the latter. As shown in Eig. l, theblocks D D are turned so that the ports of the meter-casing opendownward to coincide with those of the box-casing, and by simply forcingthe meter-casing toward the boxcasing the joints between the two may besealed. While ground faces might be employed, we prefer to use theintervening packings e, and any suitable means is employed for forcingthe meter-casing against the boxcasing.

IOO

In order to insure the proper coincidence of the ports, notwithstandingdifferences in the length of the meters, the ports either of themeter-casing or of the box-casing areenlarged, preferably elongated tosuch an eX- tent that they will coincide with the adjacent ports,notwithstanding variations in the distances between the latter. Thus, asshown, the ports ct l) of the box-casing are elongated, so that therewill be a full communication of the ports of the metercasing therewith,notwithstanding the differences in distances between the ports ofdifferent meter-casings which may be employed. It will be evident thatthe ports a b may be circular and that the ports of the meter-casing maybe elongated or enlarged with like eect.

To permit a ready application of the meter-casing to the meter-box andfacilitate its removal when required, we make use of clamping devices soarranged that when the meter-casing is in proper position it may beclamped in place and forced toward the seats of the meter-box, so as tosecure tight joints between the two. As shown in Figs. l and 2, thereare brackets E extending upward from the base B and over the inlet andoutlet ports a b, and in threaded sockets of the overhanging parts areset-screws F, which when the blocks D are brought beneath saidset-screws are turned so as to force the blocks downward. By looseningthe set-screws F the metercasing may be removed by first turning it tocarry its blocks D from beneath said setv screws and then lifting itvertically upward.

It will be seen in the construction described that flat disks orsubstantially ilat packings are used, so that the pressure to tightenthe joint in no wise tends to twist or distort the packing.

In order to permit the set-screws to turn with facility from above, theyare provided with angular heads, to which a key may be applied.

While, as before stated, the blocks D may be constituted an integralpart of the meter, casing, advantage results from making them separate,so that they may be applied to the spuds of meters of differentconstructions, whereby any forms of meters in ordinary use may beemployed in connection with our invention without altering theconstruction of the meter-casing itself. A further advantage from theuse of channel-blocks adapted to the spuds of the meter-casing is thatthe said blocks may be turned to present the ports upon one side, sothat they may be forced against the bearing-faces of ports of theboxcasing opening sidewise. As shown in Fig. 3 within the box-casing aresocketed projections I, with which communicate different sections J J ofthe service-pipe, and the blocks D of the meter-casing, are forcedagainst the seats or faces of the projections I, by means of theeccentrics K K, which are turned to the position shown to bind the partstogether, and which may be turned halfway around to release themeter-casing.

Without limiting ourselves to the precise construction and arrangementofparts shown, we claiml. The combination of a meter-box with inlet andoutlet ports in the casing thereof, a meter with inlet and outlet portsadapted to cooperate with those of the box, the seats surrounding theports of one of these members beiggmlwjatguwh the seats of the other memer conform to make a tight joint, and means for applying pressure to themeter in a direction toward the ports of the box to force the seatsthereof against the seats of the box and clamp them in contact,substantially as set forth.

2. A meter-box provided with a base having inlet and outlet ports andsurrounding seats formed thereon combined with a meter having inlet andoutlet ports and surrounding seats, and clamping devices supported bythe box to engage the meter opposite the ports in the box forcing themeter by direct pressure toward the box-casing with the portscoinciding, substantially as set forth.

3. A meter-box having a base with inlet and outlet ports and surroundingseats both in the same plane combined with a meter-casing with ports andseats adapted to coincide with those of the meter-box, packings betweenthe seats, and clamping means supported by the box to engage themetencasin g opposite the ports in the box for forcing the meter towardthe box with a direct pressure upon the packings, substantially as setforth.

ft. The combination of the meter-box hav ing inlet and outlet ports,brackets supporting set-screws opposite said parts,and a metercasinghaving channeled extensions adapted to be clamped to the meter-box bysaid setscrews, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES A. TILDEN. HENRY D. WINTON. Witnesses:

FRANCIS J. I-IERsEY, J r., WM. J. SMITH.

IOO

